Portfolio Launches New ShowReel Service

AUTO CENTRAL - August 28, 2008: Portfolio, Europe’s leading provider of showroom and online retail marketing services and part of the Manheim Group, has enhanced further its offering with the launch of ShowReel, a product that enables online customers to view a dealer’s stock in a video-style format. Designed to integrate with manufacturer or dealer used car stock locators, ShowReel works by taking a dealer’s vehicle imagery and presenting it in an automated, dynamic way. Audi, Lexus and Volkswagen are the first of Portfolio’s clients to pioneer the use of ShowReel.

The used car locator technology enables online customers to find vehicles that match their specific buying criteria. When a customer selects a vehicle featured in the returned search results, ShowReel is activated and each image of the vehicle is presented in a video-style format giving the option to ‘image select’, ‘pause’ and ‘zoom’, allowing viewers to focus on key vehicle features. This visually stimulating and interactive presentation maximises customer interest and raises the likelihood that they will make a sales enquiry.

Whilst ShowReel is a new technological development its success builds on Portfolio’s long established proven professional photography service provided by a national network of more than 120 photographers. These photographers take more than one million images of cars and commercial vehicles each year to support the promotion of used vehicle stock to both wholesale and retail markets.

Andy Simpson, Fleet and Remarketing Manager from Lexus GB commented: “Lexus has arranged for all Lexus Approved Pre-Owned Hybrid models to be presented with ShowReel including the RX400h high performance SUV on the www.lexus.co.uk website. Additionally, individual Centres are now choosing to ‘ShowReel’ other models within their Approved Pre-Owned stock. Well over 25% of Lexus Approved Pre-Owned cars within the network are now being presented using this dynamic online enhancement. We are delighted how this technology enhances our customer’s online experience and raises interest in the cars showcased. As such we anticipate that more Lexus Centres will subscribe to the product over the coming months.”

John Simpson, Managing Director of Portfolio added: “The introduction of ShowReel complements the core photographic service offered to Portfolio clients for the past 15 years, and combines with web technologies to provide our manufacturer and dealer clients with another service that aims to enhance their brands and further increase the level of customer enquiries they receive – and by doing so help them generate more sales.”